Scale for charging machines



Oct. 4, 1932. o. TWElT SCALE FOR CHARGING MACHINES Filed Aug. 1, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l OLAI/ TWE/T INVENTOR Oct. 4, 1932. o. TWEIT SCALE FOR CHARGING MACHINES Filed Aug. 1, 1928 2 Sheets5heet 2 OLAV TWE/T INVENTOR ATTORN EY Patented Dot. 4, 1932 OLAV TWEIT, OF ORANGE, NEW JER$EY, A

SSEG363R T0 SEMET-SGLVAY ENGINEERING CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CGBPGRATEOZI OF? YORK SCALE FOR CHARGING- IEACHINES Application filed August 1, 1528.

, This invention relates to a balance or scale device, and more particularly to a fuel weighing device for a charging machine such as disclosed in the patent to George R. Steere No. 1,608,680, of November 30, 126. While I have shown and described as a preferred embodiment of my invention a fuel feeding device for a charging machine of a gas generator, it will be understood that this invention is not limited thereto but may be used in connection with any balance or scale device.

One object of the present invention is to provide a balance adapted for use in a charging machine that is of simple and rugged construction and efficient in operation. Another object is to provide a scale or balance that includes means to compensate for uneven distribution of material in the container or scale pan of the balance and that is, therefore, substantially accurate irrespective of the dis tribution of material in the container.

In the usual balance device acontainer or scale pan is mounted in counter-balance relation with a weight lever and weight platform secured to the lever. The container or scale pan of many machines involving weighing devices, as for example the hopper of acharging machine, is often of considerable size and if the charge is not evenly distributed in the container, i. e., to affect the Weights on the weight platform proportionately to the mass thereof, the balance obviously will not function to accurately weigh the charge.

According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, there is provided a weight lever pivoted in bearing supports intermediate the ends thereof so as to form a lever of the first kind, the pivotal supports serving as the fulcrum for the weight lever. Secured to the long arm of the lever is a weight platform arranged to detachably receive suitable weights. A container or scalepan is preferably mounted on the end of the short arm of the weight lever in counter-balance relation to the long arm and weight platform. A second lever is pivotally mounted on a suitable support so as to form arms of unequal length, the short arm being preferably fastened to a gate or flapper pivotally mounted in the Serial No. @WQZBE).

sides of the container. The long arm of this second lever is connected to the long arm of the weight lever at a particular point so that the distance between this point and the fulcrum of the weight lever is to the length of the short arm of the weight lever as the long arm is to the short arm of the second lever.

In this construction the charge distributed on the base of the container over the support therefor, as usual, is counter-balanced against tl e weights placed on the weight platform. Also, if the material is unevenly distributed in the container, which is often the case due to the indiscriminate feed of the material usually employed, that portion of the material positioned at the front portion of the container over the flapper or gate therein in the usual scale would not affect the weight on the weight platform proportionately to its mass. According to this invention, however, due to the second lever having its short arm pivoted to the gate in the container and the long arm connected to a particular point on the long arm of the weight lever, as above described, the material positioned over the gate in the container affects the weights on the weight platform in proportion to its mass. It has been found in commercial practice, that a scale constructed as herein described yields substantially accurate and improved results as compared with the results obtained from scales constructed in accordance with prior practice.

Accordingly, this invention comprises a container in counter-balance relation with a weight lever and associated with this lever so as to compensate for uneven distribution of material therein.

@ther objects and advantages will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of a charging machine showing a portion of the top of the generator, the hopper of the charging machine being broken away to show the interior con struction thereof and illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational detail on an enlarged scale showing the mounting for the hopper and weight lever;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view on an enlarged scale of the mounting for the weight lever and hopper; and

Fig. 4 is a front elevational detail showing the mounting of the weight lever and hopper supports.

Referring to the drawings wherein 1 indicates the top portion of a combustible gas generating machine such as a water gas generator, 2 indicates the frame of the charging machine, preferably such as disclosed in the Steere patent hereinbefore mentioned, in charging position over the charging opening of the generator 1. The charging machine comprises a magazine 3, fragmentarily shown, provided with a fuel nozzle 4 having a cover 5 adapted to serve as a closure for the nozzle 4. The cover 5 is moved into open and closed positions by the hydraulic motor or cylinder 6 through link 7 bolted or other- Wise fastened to the piston rod (not shown) of the cylinder 6. The link 7 is pivoted at 8 to a lever 9 which is keyed or otherwise fastened to shaft 10 supported in brackets 11 secured to the charging machine. A lever to the cover 5.

13 is keyed to shaft 10 and is secured by a nut 15 to a pin 14 integral with or fastened Pivoted at 16 to the lever is a curved lever 17 the function of which will be hereinafter explained.

Standards 21 are bolted or otherwise fastened. to the frame 2 of the charging ma- L chine and are provided at the top with a cross-bar 23. Bearings 24 are preferably bolted to the ends of the cross-bar 23. A weight lever or scale beam 26 has a substantially U-shaped end 27 provided with pins or projections 28 preferably formed integral with the arms 29 of the U-shaped end 27. The pins 28 are rotatably mounted in the bearings 24 and are so positioned on the lever 26 as to divide the lever into a long arm 30 and a short arm 31. Pivotally secured at 33 to the extreme end of the long arm 30 is a weight platform 34 arranged to detachably receive suitable weights.

Projections or pins 35 are preferably 3 formed integral with the ends 36 of the short arm 31 and extend in an opposite direction from projections 28. Supporting arms 37 are loosely and rotatably mounted on the pins 35 and are bolted or otherwise secured to the 3 base or sides of a hopper or'scale pan 39.

The hopper 39 is formed with a base plate 41, side plates 42, 43 and a flapper or gate 44 pivotally mounted at 45 in the side plates 42,43.

The hopper 39 and supporting arms 37 are so positioned on pins 35 of the short arm 31 with respect to the long arm'30 of the weight lever 26 fulcrumed about the pivotal mounting of pins 28 in bearings 24, that the hopper and supporting arms counter-balance the long arm 30 of the weight lever 26 and weight platform 34 about the fulcrum formed by the mounting of pins 28 in bearings 24.

' Pivoted at 47 (Fig. 1) to the curved lever 17 is a lever 48 of suitable dimensions to provide a short arm 49 and a long arm 51. The short arm 49 is pivotally connected at 52 to a bracket 53 bolted or otherwise secured to thefiapper or gate 44. The long arm has a U-shaped portion 54 in which is mounted a pin 55. A link 56 has one end pivoted on pin and the other end pivotally connected with a pin or connecting rod 57 bolted or otherwise fastened at 58 to the long arm 30 of weight lever 26. Point 58 at which the long arm 51 is fastened to the long arm 30 of the weight lever 20 is preferably positioned so that the distance between this point and the fulcrum 28 is to the length of the short arm 31 as the length of the long arm 51 is to the length of the short arm 49.

A conveyor 61 (Fig. 1) is suitably positioned to deliver material such as fuel to the hopper 39 of the charging machine. The conveyor belt 62 passes over a pulley 63 keyed or otherwise secured to a shaft 64 suitably journaled above the hopper 39. Shaft 64 has keyed thereto a pulley 65 over which passes a belt 66 which also passes over a pulley 67 secured to the armature shaft 68 of the motor 69. A usual belt tensioning device 71 is provided for maintaining the conveyor belt 62 taut. The conveyor 61 discharges the material into the hopper 39 so that the material is indiscriminately distributed therein.

A mercury switch 72 is mounted on the side 42 of the hopper 39 and a second mercury switch 73 is positioned on the long arm of the weight lever 26. The mercury switches 72 and 73 are connected in series to the motor circuit 75 by electric conductors 76. The circuit 75 is in turn connected to a suitable source of power.

In operation, when a predetermined charge has been delivered to the hopper 39 in full line position (Fig. 1) which is the position for receiving the charge from the conveyor 61, the hopper and charge over-balance the weight lever, weight platform and weights on the latter equivalent to the weight of the predetermined charge. Accordingly, the weight lever is rocked about the pivotal support 28, the long arm 30 moving upward (Fig. 2) and the short arm 31 and the container moving downward as shown from the full to the dotted line positions. The elevation of the weight lever causes the mercur in switch'7 3 to flow toward the left thereby opening the switch and the circuit to the motor thus de-energizing and stopping the motor and consequently interrupting the feed of material by the conveyor 61 to the hopper 39.

The hopper is maintained in the full line position indicated in F 1 by the support dicated in dotted lines, permitting shortarm of which is connected to gate of the hopper and the long arm 51 of which is connected to'long arm 30 of the weight lever. Upon operation of the hydraulic cylinder or motor 6, at predetermined time intervals, by the admission and discharge of pressure fluid, in accordance with usual pra tice of operat' 3 such cylinders, as disclosed, for example, inthe aforementioned Steers patent, lever llis moved downweuily, as ing the hop per to pivot about points and follow downward movement of the lever 1'7. Hydraulic cylinder 6. through levers 7, and

:1 o 1, 13, opens cov' r 5 simultaneously witn "he s +1,

ward movement of lever 27. li.-' ppcr moves into the dotted line position 1), the cover moves toward the ope; tion shown in dotted lines (Fig. so it the curved lever 17 moves toward toe r'ght and the gate ll and hopper e rocked dc-wnwarcly and there is i tive movement between. lever 17 and '1 44 the gate is maintains When the hopper moves into the fuel l against this nozzle or a stop therein so that further movement is prevented, cont'mcd movement of the cover toward the right (Fig. 1) causes lever 1'? through lever 4-9 and 53 secured to gate 4 lto swing the about its pivotal mounting 35, per- 1 r J. u a a the fuel to IlOW lllLO tne magaZii-e bracket gate l mitting Movement of the cover 5 into closed posi first causes curvec lever 17 to swing the l4 into position so that the protrudin eat 81 engagestop stop 82 integral with cured to the sides of the magazine aim tinned movement of the cover si hopper about its pivotal support 35 line loading position.

The above described downward movement f hopner 89 causes the mercury in switch 12 to now toward the left thereby opening switch 72. Accordingly, when the fuel is discharged from the hopper 39 and the 1 t lever 26 moves back to full line positron 1 and 2) closing the switch 73,

ne niotor 68 is not energized as the circuit, one to the open switch 72, remains incomplete. rho return of the hopper into fuel receiving 1 ositi n closes the switch 72 which completes he circuit to the electric motor 68, energiztl-e motor which drives the conveyor through he pulleys 64 and 67 and 'connec belt 66 and an additional charge is then fed to the hopper 39.

it will be noted that since the container is supported on the short arm 81 of the weight lever 26 fulcrumed at 28, the material over the pivotal support 38 of the container isin counter-balance relation with the weights on the weight platform. Also, due

to the lever or scale beam 51 secured at 52 to the bracket 53 on the flapper or gate 44 and connected at 58 to the long arm of the weight lever 26, the material distributed on the flapper causes the short arm 49 to move downwardly, the long arm 51 to move upwardly exerting an upward thrust on the long arm 30 of the weight lever 26 which is counter-balanced by the thrust exerted by the weights on the weight platform.

commercial practice a balance has been constructed wherein the length of the short arm of the lever 51 was 9% and the length of the long arm of this lever was 28 'lhe efiective length of the long arm of the weight lever was 15 and the effective length of the short arm was 1 The long arm of the lever was secured to the long arm of the weight lever at a point 4 away from me fulcrum of tie weight lever so that the distance between this point and the fulcrum was three times the length of the shortarm of the weight lever which was the proportion existing between the length of the long arm of the lever 51 and the length of the short arm. is understood, of course, that the dimensions given herein are merely illustrative of one construction of a balance and that a scale or balance of any desired dimensions could be built but, preferably, the relative relation between the length of the long arm and th length oi"- the short arm of the second mentioned lever is maintained the same as the relation of the distance between the point where the long arm of this lever is secured to the long arm of the weight lever and the fulcrum for the weight lever to the length of the short arm of the weight lever.

It will be noted that there is thus provided a balance of simple and rugged construction that is adapted for use in a charging machine. Also, this balance is provided with means to compensate for uneven distribution of material in the hopper or scale pan and is, therefore, substantially accurate irrespective of the distribution of material in the hopper.

l Vhile one specific embodiment of the invention is shown and described, it will be understood that this invention is not limited to the str .cture described, as various changes in the details thereof may bemade by those skilled in the art and the invention is not to be limited to the structure described but only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a balance, a support, alever of the first kind with unequal arms pivotally mounted in said support so that said support serves as the fulcrum for said lever, a weight platform connected to the end of the long arm, a container arranged to receive material connected to the end of the short arm, said container having a moving part arranged to support some of the material in said container, a second support, a second lever pivoted on said second support so to provide arms of unequal length, said second lever having one arm connected to said mov ing part and the other arm connected to the long arm of said first mentioned lever.

'2. In a balance, a support, a weight lever pivoted in sai support, a weight platform at one end of said weight lever, a container at the other end of said weight lever for receiving a charge of material, said container having a moving part arranged to support some of the material in said container, and means connect'ng said moving part with said weight lever to compensate for uneven distribution of material in said container.

3. In a balance, a support, a weight lever of the first kind with unequal arms pivotally mounted in said support so that said support serves as the fulcrum for said lever, a weight platform connected to the end of the long arm, a container connected to the end of the short arm, a gate in said container, a second support, a lever pivoted on said second support so as to provide arms of unequal length, means securing the short arm to said gate and means securing the long arm to the long arm of said weight lever at a point so that the distance between this point and the fulcrum of i said weight lever is to the length of the short arm of the weight lever as the long arm is to the short arm of said lever.

a. In a charging machine, in combination, a support, a lever fulcrumed to said support to provide a long and short arm, a veight platform secured to said long arm, a container on s id short arm in counter-balance relation to said weight lever and platform, a gate in said container serving as a closure for the discharge end of the container, and a lever fastened to said gate and to the long arm of said Weight lover.

o. In a chargmg machine, in combination, a support, a lever fulcruined to said support to provide a long and short arm, a weight platform secured to said long arm, a container on said short arm in counter-balance relation to said weight lever and platform, a gate in said container, a support on the charging machine, a lever pivoted to said support so as to provide arms of unequal length, the short arm being secured to said gate and the long arm to the long arm of the weight lever.

6. In a charging machine, in combination,

i a support, a weight lever pivoted on said support so as to provide a lever of the first kind with unequal arms, said support serving as the fulcrum for said weight lever, a weight platform secured to the long arm, a hopper loosely and rotatably mounted on the short arm, a pivoted gate in said hopper, an operating lever for said gate and a lever pivoted on said operating lever so that a short and long arm is provided, the short arm being connected to said pivoted gate and the long arm being secured to the long arm of said weight lever at a point so that the distance between this point and the fulcrum of the weight lever is to the length of the short arm of the weight lever as the length of the long arm of said lever is to the length of the short arm.

7. In a balance, a support, a lever fulcrumed to said support to provide a long and short arm, a weight platform secured to said long arm, a container on said short arm in counter-balance relation to said weight lever and platform, a gate in said container, an operating lever for said gate and a lever pivoted to said operating lever and connected to said gate and to the long arm of said weight lever.

8. In a charging machine, in combination, support, a lever fulcrumed to said support to provide a long and short arm, a weight platform secured to said long arm, a container on said short arm in counter-balance relation to said weight lover and platform, a gate on said container, an operating lever for said gate, and a lever pivoted to said operating lever so as to provide a long and short arm, th short arn'i being connected to said gate and the long arm being secured to the long arm of said weight lever at a point so that the distance between this point and the fulcrum of the weight lever is to the length of the short arm of the weight lever as the length of the long arm of said lever is to the length of the short arm.

9. In a balance, a container, a gate in said cont ier arranged to support some of the materi l in said container, a weight lever in counterhalancing relation with said container, and means connecting said gate and said weight lever to compensate for the weight of material on said gate.

In witness whereof, I hereunto set mv hand.

OLAV TWEIT. 

